Advertising and Marketing

News about Advertising and Marketing, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 25, 2015

Some critics say drug maker Shire is going too far in its marketing of Vyvanse, amphetamine-based drug that was recently approved to treat binge-eating disorder; Shire spent years before approval shaping public perception and diagnosis of binge-eating disorder, much as it did with ADHD in the past; controversy highlights marketing strategy that has yielded billions in profits and that many say presents public danger. MORE

Feb. 24, 2015

Series of studies in journals The Lancet and Lancet Global Health points to worsening diet and increased obesity around world, particularly in countries with rising incomes; trends are occurring in tandem with increase of advertising targeting children by Western junk food and snack manufacturers. MORE

Feb. 13, 2015

NBA All-Star Game and promotional events surrounding it have become increasingly exclusive over years; tickets for game will be distributed to marketing and broadcast partners and individual teams and, for fifth straight year, will not be sold directly to public. MORE

Feb. 12, 2015

Farhad Manjoo State of the Art column examines whether Google is falling into same trap of eventual technological irrelevancy that snared previous tech giants like Digital Equipment and Wang; notes tech analyst Ben Thompson has garnered attention for pointing out correctly that Google's ad business seems to have peaked, and suggests that without new source of revenue company could fall behind its competitors. MORE

Feb. 10, 2015

New generation of Chinese smartphone start-ups like Smartisan are marketing low-cost handsets to younger Chinese customers who want personal identity in phone; they are utilizing social media and other marketing ploys to gain loyalty and build name recognition. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Barneys New York unveils catalog and advertising campaign featuring 28 young male models worshiping 10 of most seasoned and famous female models in industry; campaign, called Better Than Ever, comes at time when older women are receiving attention in fashion. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Anheuser-Busch's Budweiser ad featuring its Clydesdale horses rescuing lost puppy is Super Bowl favorite based on online views and social media activity; Nationwide spot aimed at promoting home safety draws viewers' ire. MORE

Feb. 2, 2015

Some ads aired during NBC's broadcast of Super Bowl are aimed at audience's heartfelt emotions; spots are funny and feature celebrities and animals, but many have themes of fatherhood, happiness and love. MORE

Jan. 31, 2015

Fifteen first-time advertisers are spending big bucks for commercials during Super Bowl, most newcomers since 2000; analysts attribute large number of first-time advertisers, in part, to fact that ad space did not sell out until later than usual, and note that number of first-timers has been steadily increasing year after year. MORE

Jan. 29, 2015

Giant crop circle in fields near Phoenix that looks like Pepsi's logo is part of company's monthslong Super Bowl advertising campaign, which is designed to get most out of $4.5 million it spent on 30-second television spot during game; campaign includes sponsorship of Katy Perry's halftime show. MORE

Jan. 27, 2015

Joe Sharkey On the Road column observes more fliers are shopping with online catalogs on their tablets, as marketers retool their airline in-flight magazines; SkyMall catalog ceases publication as its publisher Xhibit files for bankruptcy. MORE

Jan. 26, 2015

Retailers continue to use direct mail catalogs to lure shoppers, but are revamping them with new marketing approaches even as they improve their websites for shopping online; analysts say catalogs are most effective method to gain online and in-store sales, with 90 million Americans making catalog purchases. MORE

Jan. 26, 2015

Data security and privacy experts say Verizon has put a persistent, hidden tracking mechanism, or cookie, into apps and browsers that advertisers and other third parties could easily take advantage of and that their users cannot delete; practice, which Verizon says it will suspend, was discovered when advertising software company Turn began using it to track visitors. MORE

Jan. 22, 2015

Small-business owners who have used Twitter's advertising platform, which has had significant impact in advertising industry, offer suggestions for ways to maximize efficacy of advertising content and share what strategies have not worked. MORE

Jan. 21, 2015

Beverage industry is rolling out a number of new products for health-conscious drinkers, including several gluten-free, low-calorie and low-alcohol options; trend follows growing discrimination among consumers, and is particularly aimed at capturing loyalty of female drinkers; new brands include Kombrucha, mixture of tea and beer that is sweetened with agave. MORE

Jan. 19, 2015

American Film Company, founded by tech entrepreneur Joe Ricketts, is experimenting with direct digital sales strategies that are commonplace in e-commerce but which Hollywood has been slow to adopt; campaign for studio's new film Against the Sun is being overseen by DigitasLBi, digital-focused agency that has had almost no previous experience in film industry. MORE

Jan. 18, 2015

Neal Gabler article explores world of corporate branding, examining how names are chosen for corporations and products; describes process that went into finding name for virtual reality company Jaunt. MORE

Jan. 15, 2015

Online controversy erupts around allegations that Calvin Klein ad campaign featuring Justin Bieber was digitally altered to make Bieber appear more muscular and endowed; Bieber's team denies charge. MORE

Jan. 12, 2015

Television broadcasters looking to break out in crowded field are spending unprecedented amounts of money on scripts that can lure viewers and generate buzz; move comes as networks face big ratings drops, more competition from digital, cable and satellite firms, and sagging advertising market. MORE

Jan. 12, 2015

David Carr The Media Equation column observes International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas has become more than just a technology spectacle of ingenuity and design; says the show has an attraction beyond gadgets, with marketers and consumers brands from other industries networking and setting up deals. MORE

Jan. 12, 2015

Heineken USA's Newcastle Brown Ale introduces campaign to recruit 20 to 30 other beer marketers to incorporate their logos into commercial that will be aired during Super Bowl broadcast; ad will be shown online and on local NBC affiliates. MORE

Jan. 10, 2015

Richard Sandomir TV Sports column says College Football Playoff National Championship between Ohio State and Oregon is expected to draw more than 35 million viewers, giving advertisers a more affordable option than Super Bowl to reach a massive audience. MORE

Jan. 7, 2015

Anheuser-Busch plans three 60-second commercials, with corresponding digital campaigns, to promote its Budweiser and Bud Light brands during the Super Bowl; ads will be specifically targeted at 20-something beer drinkers, whom company has trouble reaching. MORE

Jan. 7, 2015

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation online campaign The Art of Saving a Life has commissioned artists to produce works inspired by program to vaccinate children in third world countries in hopes of increased awareness and fundraising. MORE

Jan. 4, 2015

No More, public awareness campaign focused on ending domestic violence and sexual assault, collaborates with NFL on series of commercials featuring professional football players that will air during the playoffs. MORE

Dec. 29, 2014

Digital scrapbook Pinterest will start selling advertisements on its site to marketers on Jan 1, 2015, competing with Google, Twitter and Facebook; advertisers say company, which has grown to about 70 million users globally, is only place their brands feel welcome, since ads are targeted to groups of people who have shown interest in certain topics. MORE

Dec. 28, 2014

Companies are spotlighting their heritage in effort to gain customers who value ritual and tradition; several studies indicate authenticity--real or perceived--can affect company's sales and profits; online retailer Zady sells clothing, jewelry and other items from companies whose stories it shares on its site. MORE

Dec. 28, 2014

Extell Development Company has successfully used holography, three-dimensional medium using laser beams to project virtual views, in an innovative sales campaign for One Riverside Park, its 35-story condominium tower at West 62nd Street. MORE

Dec. 25, 2014

Small businesses are increasingly benefiting from the use of 'content marketing' tools like blog posts, images and other Internet and social media content to establish themselves as respected experts and improve their search engine rankings. MORE

Dec. 22, 2014

Companies are forecast to spend more money on digital advertising than on television campaigns in China in 2015; with 527 million smartphones in use, nation is testing ground for marketers and tech firms; homegrown social media platforms are central to ad efforts. MORE

Dec. 21, 2014

Metropolitan Transportation Authority in January 2015 will unveil public service ads aimed at curbing rude behavior like spreading legs wide and wearing large backpacks on crowded trains; over 6.1 million people ride New York City's subway on a single day, leaving little leg room. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

Retailers are using mannequins to entice customers into their stores, sending messages to their smartphones that includes images of outfits; it is part of effort to lure business of strictly online customers. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

Advertising column; Stuart Elliott, in his final column, lists the top 5 changes on Madison Avenue over past 25 years. MORE

Dec. 18, 2014

Advertising column; Kellogg's is introducing prime-time advertising campaign to encourage consumers to set out cereal for breakfast before going to sleep, in effort to counter declining revenues for cold cereal. MORE

Dec. 17, 2014

Advertising column; Fenton Communications, advertising agency run by founder David Fenton, is sold to Craig Leach and James Marcus; David Fenton will remain with company as chairman. MORE

Dec. 16, 2014

Advertising column; Belvedere Vodka signs partnership agreement to be in next James Bond movie, Spectre, set for November 2015 release; Belvedere's parent is LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton. MORE

Dec. 15, 2014

The Week, print magazine that includes roundup of news, has seen its gift subscriptions rise 35 percent over last five years, to 165,000 in 2014; overall circulation has risen to 579,291 in 2014, up 12 percent from 515,066 in 2010. MORE

Dec. 15, 2014

Advertising column; Hearst Magazines is reinventing of its periodicals with flaps, fold-outs and other designs to attract more advertising revenue. MORE

Dec. 13, 2014

Alina Tugend Shortcuts column explores why storytelling has emerged as one of the most powerful tools for businesses, particularly in attempts to improve advertising. MORE

Dec. 12, 2014

Advertising column; Athlon Media Group has become only major publisher of nationally distributed newspaper magazines, or Sunday supplements, and will be implementing big changes ranging from rate bases to paper stocks. MORE

Dec. 11, 2014

Advertising column; Air Wick, brand of Reckitt Benckiser, releases new online video that reflects company's move away from marketing its air fresheners as cover ups for odors and toward using them as fragrances that set an atmosphere in the home. MORE

Dec. 11, 2014

Nick Bilton Disruptions column holds that ride-sharing service Lyft's cutesy style of branding is damaging its image and squandering opportunity to capitalize on missteps made by rival Uber. MORE

Dec. 10, 2014

Report published by Assn of National Advertisers and White Ops finds that fraudulent operators using robots to impersonate humans clicking on digital ads will rob advertising industry of $6.3 billion in 2015. MORE

Dec. 10, 2014

Advertising column; Subaru will renew partnership for a fifth season with IFC comedy series Portlandia; company will continue nontraditional campaign in which it integrates its cars into scenes and sponsors online video, despite fact that show satirizes segments of its consumer base. MORE

Dec. 9, 2014

Streaming by Netflix and other services is subtracting from time that viewers spend watching traditional television, and related advertising revenues are declining as result. MORE

Dec. 9, 2014

Advertising column; executives at UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in New York forecast steady growth of 4.8 to 5 percent in ad spending for 2015. MORE

Dec. 8, 2014

Advertising column; Cosmopolitan magazine and Procter & Gamble's CoverGirl cosmetics line are paying more than $2 million to sponsor the New Year's Eve celebration in New York's Times Square. MORE

Dec. 5, 2014

Advertising column; use of the word 'bold' has been increasingly popular for marketers of variety of products; some uses of the word seem baffling. MORE

Dec. 4, 2014

Advertising column; Bermuda's tourism office has invited popular users of social media to the island in order to encourage travelers to visit. MORE